All – would like to introduce another Matt from gratuitousworld.com. We like what he does over there. Check it out. Here’s his favorite albums from 2011. let him know what you think.
by MATT on DECEMBER 28, 2011
I listened to some good music this year. This is a list I made. The list relates to the initial observation.
25. White Denim – D: Keep Austin stonewashed. They’ll be with Wilco for the next couple months. pan flute, meister ?
24. Radiohead - King of Limbs: Fred Armisen’s Thom Yorke on last week’s SNL pretty much made up for years of laughless Obama sketches.
23. The Weather Station – All of it was Mine: Canadian warmth. Like crock pot caribou.
22. Wooden Shijps – West: Take me to the drone.
21. Destroyer – Kaputt: It’s really transfixing…Then I want to kill myself…. Good album though! In my music library, Destroyer’s final song “Bay of Pigs” is followed by Dexys Midnight Runners’ “Come on Eileen” in a very hilarious + disorienting juxtaposition. FYI, everyone.
20. The Decembrists – The King Is Dead: And The Decembrists are back.
19. Roadside Graves – We Can Take Care Of Ourselves: Not a bad follow-up to My Son’s Home.
18. Cut Copy – Zonoscope
17. Kanye West & Jay-Z – Watch The Throne: *slams fist* *begrudgingly shakes head in approving credit to Chicago’s biggest megalomaniacal asshat* *formulates qualifier* *types words*
But let’s be honest, Jay-Z carries the indulgent album. He’s good.
16. Strange Arrangement – Polygraph: Definitely in my top-5 for “most listened to” albums.
15. Feist – Metals: Probably Shia LeBouf’shadowboxing soundtrack. Shadow won most recent match with 4th round knockout.
13. Wilco - The Whole Love: Bookended by 2 great tracks, Wilco came to the table with something a little different and refreshing. Someone please add something snarky if you want. I’m out.
12. Wild Flag – Wild Flag: I love Greg Kot. Greg Kot loves this album. I agree. Now let’s work through his bullshit infatuation with Tune-Yards.
11. Kurt Vile – Smoke Ring For My Halo: At once relaxing and energetic.
10. Bon Iver – Bon Iver: “Calgary” is one of my favorite songs of the year.
9. Portugal. The Man – In The Mountain in the Cloud: It seems like this could have come from any recent decade. Real fun listen. By the way, they’re from Wasilla, Alaska – just like another popular entertainer! Hope they don’t quit anytime soon. zing
7. Gillian Welch – The Harrow & The Harvest: Now this is some wholesome shit.
6. Tinariwen - Tassili: I don’t know what they’re singing about, probably some fascinating stuff about being Tuareg nomads. However, I dare you to listen to this without moving a little bit. Can’t do it. Their previous album (also awesome) featured tribal children on backup vocals. This album features trendy rockers such as Nels Cline and the dudes from TVOTR.
5. Ryan Adams – Ashes & Fire
4. M83 - Hurry Up We’re Dreaming: To be listened to on New Years Eve.
3. The Field – Looping State of Mind: To be listened to on New Years’ Day.
2. TV On the Radio – Nine Types of Light: Not as much hype. just as much light.
1. The War On Drugs – Slave Ambient: I must have been down in Buffalo Bill’s Torture Well getting my skin loosened because I never listened to these guys until this year. What an album. What a crew. What a country.
Nice list. That Tinariwen album was way underrated this year.
A lot of good stuff here. Interested to listen to The Weather Station.
Several of the artists on your list made it on to my year-end music lists. The LPs by Destroyer and Kurt Vile impressed me the most, and are both on my top 10 albums from 2011 list.
The Ryan Adams record is growing on me the more I listen to it.